Inside the Developers Studio: Brian Allgeier

2. Describe it in five words or less.A Spectacularific Galactic Sci-Fi Adventure!

3.When is it being released?[Channeling best “movie guy” voice] … Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction will be available worldwide and exclusively on PlayStation 3 this fall.

4. Tell us more about your game. What’s the story?Ratchet and Clank are joyriding in their favorite city, Metropolis, when an imperial armada suddenly attacks. They discover that the invasion was orchestrated by one Emperor Tachyon who has a deep hatred towards Ratchet. Confronted by a past that he never knew he had, Ratchet and his buddy Clank set out on an adventure to get some answers and defeat the Emperor. We’ve never explored Ratchet’s history in past games and decided to begin the “Future” series by delving into the mystery of his existence. Clank also has his own major discovery when he learns that he has supernatural abilities – turns out he’s a robot with a mystical side! All of this takes place during their journey through a fascinating new galaxy where they encounter exotic alien worlds and creatures.

5. What did you do on this game that you couldn’t do on another platform?As you can imagine, we get asked this question frequently because of the massive buzz about the console wars. Obviously, each console has its own unique strengths that would require us to approach our game development process a little differently. But Insomniac has developed exclusively for Sony and PlayStation consoles for more than 10 years now. We’ve done so because we have great relationships with the people there and because we believe in the hardware’s capabilities. To be honest, we don’t concern ourselves with what or how we could develop on other consoles since we’re happy working with Sony.

6. Do you have any “firsts” in this game that have never been done before?Outside of breakdancing mutant alien centipedes, hip-hop bouncing Morph-O-Ray penguins and pelvic-thrusting mech bounty hunters controlled by fish heads, not so much. Seriously though, what Ratchet & Clank Future: ToD does offer is a tightly integrated, massive, epic, varied, and humorous adventure that should hopefully feel like a true evolution of the Ratchet & Clank franchise.

7. What do you think is the coolest aspect of this game?That’s a tough question! I’m torn between the humor, the visual spectacle and the gameplay variety. The visual spectacle is the one thing that I think people will notice immediately. We’ve been able to create some very detailed and beautiful worlds that Ratchet and Clank visit and I think players will have a real sense of wonder when they explore them. The vibrant colors, expansive views, expressive characters, and massive explosions enhance every aspect of the game and create a rather engaging experience.

8. Describe one of the boss fights in the game?One of our intense boss battles features a giant construction mech controlled by furry Kerchu aliens. The mech chases Ratchet along a transportation rail and smashes out pieces of it with its giant wrecking ball arms. Ratchet must jump the gaps and dodge missiles while racing down a twisty rail. All of this is viewed from multiple camera angles. Ratchet travels upside down and must fight the giant mech while hanging high above the arena floor using his gravity boots. The mech swings his heavy wrecking balls to pulverize the upper level of the arena, forcing Ratchet to drop down and fight the boss on the ground. While he’s on the lower level, the boss will unleash his wrecking ball attack, fire streams of rockets, and dump Kerchu creatures that can roll around in shielded exoskeletons. It’s fun to see all of the furry Kerchu creatures moving around while they operate this massive machine. You can strategically choose if you want to be on the upper section of the arena where the boss has fewer attacks, or on the lower section where the boss has more attacks and there’s more room to maneuver. Having an intense boss battle that takes place across a large section of the level and offers this degree of strategy is something that we’ve never done before in the Ratchet & Clank franchise.

9. If you could sit one person in front of your game for an hour, who would it be?Nikola Tesla. I think he’d get a kick out of what we’ve done with electricity.

10. What game do you most want an hour to sit in front of yourself (besides your own)?Little Big Planet – And I’m not saying that because it’s a PS3 game! From what I’ve seen, it looks like a heck of a lot of fun to build co-op levels and run through them with your friends. I want to build a Gauntlet of Doom with flamethrowers, monkeys and spinning blades!

11. How many E3’s does E3 2007 mark for you?That would be…um…12. Man I’m getting old. Yep…sonny, I remember back in day when videogames were made up of just a few sprites and some decent color cycling…

13. Most over used phrase or expression during E3 season.“NEXT-GEN!” – And sadly, I use it all the time. I’m looking forward to when things become “Now-Gen” and I can drop the expression!

14. You are asked to make suggestions for an E3 survival kit- what three items HAVE to be included?Past E3’s: Ear plugs, booth babe blinders and a tazor

15. What advice would you have for someone who has never experienced E3?Don’t feel ashamed to cry. You can work through it. Time heals and eventually the pain will go away.

16. Describe what you anticipate from 2007’s newly formatted E3 in five words or less.Sensible Pliable Sasquach Fun Thingy?

17. What’s your favorite part about developing games for a living?My favorite part is when pieces of the game come together and create something more amazing than what was imagined. There are a lot of talented people at Insomniac and seeing the results of their combined forces is incredible. For example, our lead character artist came up with an enemy character that is a robotic suit controlled by an alien fish-like creature in a bubble. That was pretty funny in and of itself. The animators then took that insane character design and made some hilarious hip thrusting animations for when he dances to the Groovitron (a combat device that make enemies dance). Watching him dance made us all crack up. Finally, one of our programmers made the fish pop out of the suits when the enemy is killed and flop around. And of course, those fish also dance. Witnessing a scene of dancing robotic troopers and flopping fish under a disco ball against a beautiful city backdrop is an unforgettable moment. It’s great when that kind of chemistry comes together and magic happens.

Also any chance of downloadable stuff like extra levels or a patch for online play. I know in some of the past games there was some multi player levels. So if a patch would allow multi player I think that would be cool.

Hahahaa, Great article guys. And despite what you say, the pain of never seeing an E3 never goes away…they just keep happening every year ! Just when I’m starting to get over it, BANG ! Another E3 and I remember I won’t be attending…see, the pain just keeps coming back…have fun at E3….jerks :P

Keep up the fantastic work over at Insomniac ladies and gents. Bang up work :D

Tremendous props to Insomniac for both Resistance and Ratchet and Clank: TOD. How in the world does your company release 2 “next-gen” PS3 games within 2 years when it’s taking others that much time to even release one?? You guys rock.

Thank you insomniac for staying with Sony so far RFOM is a spetacular game and i betting RATCHET AND CLANK FUTURE: TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION will be just as good or even more spectacular and compelling. You guys are one my favourite developers. With the kind of negative press that Sony has been getting, you guys really prove that with less complaints and more ingenious thinking, games like the two you have for PS3 can be acheived. Insomniac makes American developers look good and give me hope someday to become one as well. Thank you for supporting Sony and the PS3 the right way.

Love #17. That’s what gaming is all about. The convergence of all these different elements. It becomes more than just entertainment, it becomes a living breathing worth you can interact with, even though all it is is animations, polygons, sounds, and shaded pixels on a screen.

This is a question I got to know, Will there be any Multiplayer in this game like past R&C games? I know you guys are focusing on the Single Player aspect, but I would also like to have a Multiplayer aspect to play once I finish the Single Player.

I can’t say there are any question I have to ask about RoC…I know it will be awesome….Oh, oh, does the mootator come back for another run? How about those star ship shoot outs? Can you guys please get together with Naughty Dog and get Jak & Ratchet in the same game? Oh and make sure Clank & Daxter get their thing on too?

Maybe we could unlock Daxter as a playable character? How about just anything bringing some characters over? Even maybe a spoof showing a billboard with Jak & Daxter starring in a movie, or a most wanted poster?

By the way, good job Brian….oh and before I go…what can you tell us about Insomniac’s PSN title?

You guys are the best! Cant wait for R&C:ToD. Btw, groovitron is so funny and amazing! I saw your onstage demonstration at sony gamers day and the game is gorgeous. keep up the awesome work guyz. hope there’s a demo on PSN!

I love how the company says the PS3 is cool and a good system, they must really know how to program in the PS3 environment, good programmers! You see other companies say oh the PS3 is harder to program in! Get you Cell programming manuals out, do your homework and use all the great functions the machine has to offer it looks like Insomniac games can do it so can you!

Loved your answer to #12: “Manic Rubber Sasquatch Love Thingy!” Hilarious. I’ll buy a game made by someone with a mind like that! BTW, never played a ratchet game to date… looking forward to my first experience being with the PS3!! Woohoo!